There are now two vaccines available to protect women against developing cervical cancer. They protect against infection with certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Both vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) protect against HPV types 16 and 18, generally contracted during sexual intercourse and which are responsible for causing around 70-75 per cent of cervical cancer. These HPV types also cause vulval and vaginal cancers in women, and anal cancers as well as some head and neck cancers in both men and women. One of the vaccines (Gardasil) also protects against genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. Both vaccines consist of virus-like particles (VLPs), manufactured using the virus coat protein. VLPs have the outward appearance of the actual virus and provoke the vaccinated person into generating a powerful immune response. However, they contain no viral DNA so cannot themselves cause disease. They are administered as three injections over a six-month period. In the UK, the vaccination programme started in September 2008 and included girls aged 12-13 and 17-18. From September 2009, a further catch-up programme commenced for girls up to the age of 18. The Department of Health (DoH) in England and Wales has decided that the HPV vaccine to be used for the programme will be Cervarix.